Green Data Centers and Green Practices Save Money and Resources

Data centers are some serious megawatt-munching machines. The new NSA Data Center being constructed in Bluffdale, Utah is estimated to use over 65-megawatts a year, which translates to about a $40 million power bill. Holy freakin’ heck! While many data centers shirk from the idea of greener energies and eco-friendly options, working with businesses that adopt green principles may be a wiser option for your business.

An article in Greendatacenternews.org explains that data center’s operating costs are expected to exceed original capital investment costs simply because of high levels of power usage, this could mean that the rates you pay to store your data may climb so high you could practically repair the deficit. Part of being green is using less power, using less power means money can be kept in your company’s pocket.

Reducing power and operating costs will also reduce your carbon footprint, which is not only beneficial to the environment, but to your company as well. According to the article, 93 percent of consumers will select an environmentally friendly product over a less eco-conscious option. Public opinion leans towards eco-friendly practices. Initially considered a fad by many businesses, green practices are here to stay, and they can save you money.

Many larger companies are already on board with these procedures. Google, for example, uses a method called free cooling in their energy-saving data centers. Free cooling works by using low temperature ambient air and evaporating water to keep servers cool. Generally, chillers are used to cool the systems, but with free cooling, Google cuts energy usage by partially eliminating the need to power chillers. With this type of technology, data services won’t be clouds of smoke.

Dell Computer Corp. is another earth-minded company. From designing, to building, to packaging, Dell has a green initiative in place, which involves making sure that packaging is minimal and recyclable. Dell is also a large recycler of used computers which have become a growing problem for third world countries who find themselves entrenched in harmful computer wastes.

Choices you make about your business practices affect the environment, and your finances. Sustainable practices as small as working with fewer lights, reducing or eliminating paper usage, and recycling your computers and other E-waste in R2 certified facilities can reduce your carbon footprint and keep the earth as green as the cash in your wallet.

A quick online search for E-waste facilities will yield plenty of useful information on disposal facilities in your area.